Discusses various matters relating to telescopic and to tidal observations. Relays request from William Whewell that TM continue tidal observations.
Sends the observations of the 21st copied by his daughter Mary. The leak in the center room has been repaired. Comments on JH's plan for measuring the base line. The Brisbane stars are nearly finished.
Frederick Augustus (Duke of Sussex) has still not visited the R.S.L. Will discuss J. A. Lloyd's case with the Duke at the first opportunity. Home news. Will continue to forward pamphlets.
Sending a copy of W. D. Conybeare's most recent publication; also his own Bridgewater treatise. Is grateful for his gift of luminous animals, which he has deposited in the College of Surgeons. Richard Owen has been giving the best lectures ever given. Dr. [William?] Smith is to exhibit his collection at Bulloch's museum. Is anxious to know what kind of fossil quadrupeds are to be found at the Cape.
J. D. Thompson plans to write JH about problem of positioning tide gage in dockyard. Admiral [Patrick Campbell] may move it to end of jetty. RW suggests omitting night observations in winter; jetty dangerous in bad weather. Will soon be ordered home. Amused by JH's report on Ascension [Island] sulfur. Sorry to hear Mary Herschel is ill. RW's son William is well again, but weak.
Continues to be concerned that the support for John Fairbairn not be seen as a political act, nor as one intended to impugn the decision of the South African Court of Justice. [Letter completed with a lengthy postscript on 1837-7-10.]
Prefers that JH's name not appear on HR's list of subscribers in support of John Fairbairn. Gives reasons. Suggests appropriate wording for HR's public statement of support for Fairbairn.
About some observations, the weather, and the difficulty of establishing tide observations, given the slowness of the Admiralty.
Awful night of thunder, wind, and rain; floods around the Observatory. Gives rainfall since 22 June. Has written to [J. D.?] Thompson to observe tides at Simon's Bay. Has no one at Table Bay. Measured Alpha Centauri on the meridian. Found JH's planetary nebulae with the mural circle.
Measurement of h Centauri.
Comments on stellar observations made by TM and reports JH's observations on sunspots. Notes error in [J. E.] Bode's celestial map.
Gives altered directions for making meteorological observations to be sent to the South African Literary and Philosophical Institution.
Found the 'real' h Centauri; unsure what star is the 'false' h Centauri. Saw the largest sunspot that JH has ever seen. Saddened to learn that TM's son [George] is seriously ill.
Thanks for JH's interest in the 'little fellow'; he has now passed all danger. Is glad JH has unravelled the mysteries of h Centauri. Wrote to Thomas Brisbane pointing out imperfections in the catalogue. Has started to publish an abstract of the Met[eorological] J[our]n[a]l in the Government Gazette. Will not attend the glittering assembly at Government House tonight.
Reports on JH's efforts to secure tidal observations for WW, the Duke of Northumberland's offer to finance the printing of JH's Cape astronomical observations, and JH's sighting of Saturn's sixth satellite. Encourages WW's efforts to write a philosophy of the inductive sciences.
The departure of missionaries [again; see JM's and WB's 1835-8-6] allows JM and WB to send along further material on the Mappa Selenographica.
No summary available.
Introduces Frederic Smith and asks the Herschels to be kind to him when he arrives at the Cape. Is anxious to see JH again.
Sends TM his nebulae observations and drawings of what he saw.
Is pleased to have a look at JH's labors, but is not at home with the observations. Sorry to hear of JH's bodily sufferings. Has another sheet printed off, but no copies at the moment. Transit clock has increased its daily rate. South end of the mural circle has heaved up. Land to west of the Observatory is being discussed with view to purchase.